JOB DESCRIPTION
Job Title: Senior Support Worker
Reports To: Support Manager
Salary:Scale 6, Point 26 - 28, £21,937 - £23,405 per annum, pro-rata,
Hours:Full-time 37.5 hours per week.
Background:
We are seeking a Senior Support Worker who will manage the Hope Street service based in Walsall which aims to provide support to young people aged 18-24 who are at risk of homelessness and who are Not in Employment, Education and Training (NEET), helping them to turn their lives around and look forward to a brighter future. The Service aims to achieve positive outcomes across a range of criteria, such as sustained accommodation, achievements in education and training, and transitioning into employment.
Job Purpose:
To manage the Hope Street residential unit, including staff management and direct support to the young people housed there. Providing support to young people at risk of homelessness to enable them to develop their skills, confidence and opportunities and make a successful transition to independance. To lead a team of support workers who work with young people to enable them to develop their skills, confidence and opportunities, using quality standards framework and in compliance with organisational policies and contractual expectations
Key Responsibilities:
Budget and Financial Control
Contribute to the preparation of financial budgets and maintain and control expenditure within those budgets for all services in accordance with financial procedures and in conjunction with appropriate officers.
Co-operate with St Basil’s Fundraising team in fundraising and marketing initiatives.
Record Keeping and Data Management
Ensure young people’s files, reports, support plans and other documents are accurate, kept up to date and that confidentiality is maintained.
Provide appropriate reports, etc., as required by line manager and others.
Service Delivery
To manage the delivery of support at the Hope Street unit, including ensuring sufficient cover at all times. This will include covering shifts (evenings, weekends and ‘sleep-in’ nights.
To work closely with the landlords of the unit to ensure the accommodation is safe and secure, that rent is paid on time and that any behaviour issues are addressed robustly.
To work with the Walsall Locality Manager to ensure the young people who are living at Hope Street are fully engaged with the programme.
To undertake holistic risk and needs assessments and to develop support and risk management plans.
Responsible for case load allocation and management to ensure support is delivered in line with contractual obligations
To develop and deliver life and social skills programmes in individual and group work settings.
To support young peoples’ engagement with work and learning
To support young people to develop positive family and other support networks
To assist young people to identify settled accommodation and assist with move on.
To provide regular support sessions to young people.
To promote and facilitate the participation of young people in their support plans and in the management of the service
To facilitate young peoples’ access to and take up of other support services
To ensure benefit claims are made and maintained in order to maximise young peoples' income.
To organise and accompany young people to appointments as appropriate.
To induct, supervise and performance manage support workers, volunteers, students and trainees.
To work as part of a team, providing cover for colleagues as required by the line manager.
As part of a team to assist in the preparation of accommodation, which may involve some cleaning duties.
Safeguarding /Health and Safety
To take responsibility for safeguarding the welfare of young people through adherence to the safeguarding policy and procedures
General
To be responsible for your own health and safety whilst at work, and the health and safety of any other employees or visitors.
Thepost holder must take responsibility for their own self development and ensure that the knowledge and information they use in their job is current and relevant.
St Basils is dependant upon its ability to raisefunds in order to sustain and develop its work with young people. Therefore, all employees are expected to supportthe work of the Fundraising Department and, wherever possible, be involved in Fundraising Events.
Conditions of Employment:
You MUST abide by the Terms and Conditions presented in St Basils Staff Handbook and Equal Opportunities and Diversity Policies and Procedures.
Hours of Work:
37.5 hours per week, half hour for lunch. Evening / weekend work is required and will be compensated with time off in lieu in negotiation with Line Manager.
Holidays
25 days per annum, plus 8 Statutory Bank holidays and 3 Concessionary days holidays, pro-rata, per annum.
Unsuccessful Candidates:
Candidates, who have not been invited to interview within 6 weeks of the closing date for receipt of applications, should know that unfortunately, they have not been successful in their application.
PERSON SPECIFICATION
JOB TITLE:Senior Support Worker
CRITERIA / STANDARD / Essential Requirements / Desirable Requirements / HOW IDENTIFIEDEducation / NVQ4 in Care, Advice and Guidance or other relevant NVQ4. / / Application Form /Certificates/
Interview
Experience / Experience working with young people in the following settings: Youth Work, Residential or Social Work, Probation/Criminal justice, Community Work, Education and Training, housing or support work.
Experience of working with volunteers or students in the above settings. /
/ Application form/interview/references
Knowledge / Up to date knowledge of welfare rights and relevant legislation. / / Interview/ assessment exercise
Skills / Able to supervise and performance manage staff.
Able to plan and organise own work and that of others.
Able to carry out calculations and understand budgets.
Able to use Microsoft Office Suite to send and receive emails, read and input information onto spreadsheets, word-process, etc.
Able to make and maintain accurate records: both verbal and numerical.
Able to work at weekends and evenings as required.
Able to work at other projects as required.
Able to communicate effectively with a diverse range of people using appropriate media.
Able to resolve incidents quickly and calmly and provide leadership when necessary.
Able to create and maintain effective working relationships with partners and external agencies.
Able to undertake holistic risk and needs assessments.
Able to design and effectively implement programmes to improve life and social skills both for individuals and groups. /
/ Interview/ assessment exercise
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